Abstract: A network-based announcement and message delivery service for providing a landline customer with information of interest such as weather, financial market data, time/temperature, sporting event results, etc. In a first embodiment, information is provided to a subscriber who simply lifts the handset of the telephone. The subscriber instead of hearing a dial tone hears the information in the form of streaming audio. In another embodiment, information is provided to the subscriber by way of information displayed on a caller-ID display and/or by way of talking caller-ID.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting a facsimile message uses a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunication network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages. The initiation of a telephone call to a destination is detected, the content of the call including the facsimile message. If the destination is available at a first time to receive a telephone call, the facsimile message is transmitted. The facsimile message may be stored on the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at the first time, or every time a telephone call is initiated by the originating party. The method also provides for situations where a telephone call is redirected, where an inter-NPA seven digit dialing case has occurred, and where “busy” or “no_answer” triggers are implemented. If the facsimile message was stored, the facsimile message is transmitted at a second time if the destination is available.

Abstract: Systems and methods of making and using fine particle materials in pigment blends and for using the aforementioned pigment blends in paint, coating, or coloring compositions are provided. This invention further provides systems and methods of enhancing the visual appearance of a variety of substrates by introducing a paint, coating, or coloring composition to the substrate. The fine particle materials of the present invention have a substantially random geometric shape, a particle size less than about 100 microns, and help provide both functional and visual enhancing properties to compositions and substrates containing these fine particle materials.

Abstract: A telecommunication product demonstration system is comprised of three major components, including customer facility equipment, sales agent facility equipment, and telecommunication service simulation equipment. The system allows a sales agent to demonstrate various long distance services and telecommunications services to potential customers.

Abstract: A service package application program employing a service activation manager for use with a service control point in an advanced intelligent network is disclosed. The service package application program is employed to provide multiple services to subscribing users. The services are implemented by one or more decision graph nodes stored as a plurality of independent functional blocks. The services are defined by logic maps specifying logically ordered combinations of the decision graph nodes. The service activation manager includes: a subscriber identifier in communication with a subscriber database; a service identifier in communication with a trigger database; an active services list compiler; and a service manager. The subscriber identifier identifies a user associated with a phone call from a received query event message, and cooperates with a subscriber database to develop a subscription services list of phone call services subscribed to by the identified user.

Abstract: A method for measuring network performance parity includes the steps of computing a call completion ratio for at least one network provider, and determining whether the call completion ratio passes a first test. These steps may further include computing a first call completion ratio for a first network provider, a second call completion ratio for a second network provider, a difference between the first call completion ratio and the second call completion ratio, and a variance for the difference. The method also includes the step of assessing whether a second test is determinate if the call completion ratio does not pass the first test, by determining whether the variance is greater than a variance cutoff. In addition, the method includes the step of assessing whether a call completion ratio passes the second test, if the second test is determinate, by determining whether the difference is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A method of routing incoming telephone calls and programming routing options and apparatus that allows incoming calls to be routed according to various criteria programmed by the subscriber.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (40) are provided permitting cookie files to be used with telephonic customer premises equipment (CPE) (12). The caller CPE (12) can be an intelligent telephone adapted to generate, store, transmit and receive cookie files. The cookie files can include information tokens describing a caller profile. The CPE (12) can provide a template cookie file upon request from a called party during a conversation between the caller and called party. The template file can then be transmitted to the called party and modified. The modified cookie file can then be returned to the caller CPE (12) for future use during subsequent calls to the called party. The cookie file can reduce the processing time of calls placed to automated dial-up service centers and also reduces its computer resources required by the service system.

Abstract: A dialed number of a called party is received from a calling party. Based on the dialed number, a name of the called party is retrieved from a database. An audio message which includes the name of the called party is generated and communicated to the calling party. A call is routed between the calling party and the called party after said communicating the audio message.

Abstract: A method of AIN query redirection is performed by a first SCP in a telecommunication network. The first SCP receives a query from an originating SSP and determines that a second SCP should service the query. The query is then populated with information from the originating SSP as well as appropriate routing information to send the query to a second SCP where a response is generated by the second SCP. The query response is sent back from the second SCP to the originating SSP without passing through the first SCP.

Abstract: An improved system and apparatus for providing caller identification information to a called party when standard Caller ID cannot be provided. If standard caller ID information cannot be provided for a call, the call is interrupted by the present service and the calling party is prompted for audible caller identification information. In one embodiment, when the audible caller identification is provided, the call is presented to the called party with a distinctive ring at the called telephone station. In another embodiment, the calling party may enter a personal identification number (PIN) to bypass the requirement for audible caller identification information. In still another embodiment, when the PIN is entered, the call is presented with a distinctive ring at the called communication station. In still another embodiment, the called party may send the incoming call to a voice mail system.

Abstract: A system (100) and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided. A calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information. The announcement may be tailored by changing the language of the announcement, for example, to conform to the majority of calls received by the called party. A special designator may be stored in association with account information when the service is ordered. The designator is read before the announcement is played to the calling party. The audible caller identification information is recorded and played to the called party in a message. The message may be tailored by changing the language or format of the announcement.

Abstract: An enhanced Calling Party Pays (CPP) or Paging Party Pays (PPP) system that enables 1) billing of calls originating from traditionally non-billable sources, 2) routing of incoming calls to voicemail if the caller does not wish to incur the additional charges, 3) allowing the caller to complete the call and charge the cellular (or paging) subscriber for additional air-time usage when the caller enters a PIN or security code, also referred to as a billing override code, and 4) allowing the caller to block CPP/PPP charges from being billed to the calling party.

Abstract: Real time detection of the fraudulent use of a telecommunications network is accomplished by analyzing data for each call that is occurring within the network. A signal protocol receiver is used to collect signaling protocol for each call that is occurring within the network. The Signaling protocol data is collected, decoded and formatted into call information records (CIRs). The CIRs contain various operator specified parameters for each call that is occurring within the network. The CIRs are compared to operator defined thresholds. If any of the CIRs exceeds the thresholds, an alert is generated. The alerts are stored in a database where the operator can analyze them and take the appropriate corresponding action to resolve the alert. The alerts and the CIRs are archived in a database so that trends of fraudulent use can be detected and prevented. This method of fraud detection provides for the effective analyzation of every call that is occurring within the network.

Abstract: A method for determining the name of a calling party where the calling party's name and corresponding telephone number are found in a remote database. The method first identifies whether the calling party's telephone number is contained within the local database. When it is determined that the telephone number is not within the local database, the method attempts to locate the telephone number in a remote database. A query is formed according to a basic signal transmission protocol to ensure that a database which receives the query will be able to respond to it. The query requesting the name associated with the telephone number is sent across a network. The method receives a response to the inquiry and checks to ensure that a name was returned to the local database before delivering the name to the called party.

Abstract: A service package application program employing a service activation manager for use with a service control point in an advanced intelligent network is disclosed. The service package application program is employed to provide multiple services to subscribing users. The services are implemented by one or more decision graph nodes stored as a plurality of independent functional blocks. The services are defined by logic maps specifying logically ordered combinations of the decision graph nodes. The service activation manager includes: a subscriber identifier in communication with a subscriber database; a service identifier in communication with a trigger database; an active services list compiler; and a service manager.

Abstract: A method for providing the names of the city and state of a calling party to a called party when the calling party's name is unavailable. The method utilizes the calling party's telephone number to determine the names of the city and state from which the calling party is calling. The method incorporates a database that contains combinations of telephone numbers and the names of the cities and states that correspond to the various combinations of numbers. In response to an indication that the name of the calling party is unavailable, the method accesses the databases and searches for the matching telephone number and corresponding city and state names. If the names are found, they are delivered to the calling party.

Abstract: A telephone subscriber unit (22) includes a caller identification device (120), a memory unit (114), a pre-processor (124) and a text-to-speech synthesizer (TTS) (110). The caller identification device (120) receives caller ID information of a calling party in a first textual format and stores the caller ID information in the memory unit (114) The pre-processor (124) converts textual caller ID information from the first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis by the text-to-speech synthesizer (110). The text-to-speech synthesizer (110) generates audible caller ID information responsive to receiving the textual caller information.

Abstract: A method a system for automatically controlling an adaptive interleaver involves monitoring performance parameters of a transmission system and controlling the adaptive interleaver in response to the performance parameters. The SNR and the data rate of the transmission system are preferably determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the SNR. Alternatively, the BER and the data rate of the transmission system are determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the BER. Alternatively, any one of the SNR, BER or data rate can alone be monitored and used to the adaptive interleaver. The system provides a effective system for adjusting an adaptive interleaver in response to performance parameters of a transmission system.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting announcement to a called party that is busy on a first call and receives a second call. Information provided by a second calling party is recorded and played back to the called party after the first call is over. The called party is not interrupted during the duration of the first call.